1. Therefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speaking,
2. As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby:
3. If so be you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
4. To whom coming, as unto a living stone, rejected indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,
5. You also, as living stones, are built up into a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
6. Therefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, elect, precious: and he that believes on him shall not be confounded.
7. Unto you therefore who believe he is precious: but unto them who are disobedient, the stone which the builders rejected, the same is made the head of the corner,
8. And, A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense, even to them who stumble at the word, being disobedient: to which also they were appointed.
9. But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own; that you should show forth the praises of him who has called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:
10. Who in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
11. Dearly beloved, I beseech you as aliens and exiles, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;
12. Having your conduct honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.
13. Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;
14. Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.
15. For so is the will of God, that with well doing you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:
16. As free, and not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.